Tipitaka >> Vinaya Pitaka >> Mahavagga >> First Khandaka >> 1.29
Adapted from the Translation by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg
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THE MAHAVAGGA
FIRST KHANDHAKA(THE FORMATION OF THE ORDER OF BHIKKHUS)
Chapter-29 : Ordination to Be Given Only When Asked.
1. At that time a certain Bhikkhu shortly after having received the upasampada ordination, abandoned himself to bad conduct. The Bhikkhus said to him: 'You ought not to do so, friend; it is not becoming.'
He replied: 'I never asked you, Sirs, saying, "Confer on me the upasampada ordination." Why have you ordained me without your being asked?'
They told this thing to the Lord Buddha.
'Let no one, O Bhikkhus(Monks), ordain a person unless he has been asked to do so. He who does, commits a dukkata offence. I prescribe, O Bhikkhus(Monks), that you ordain only after having been asked.
2. 'And (a Bhikkhu) ought to be asked in this way: Let him who desires to receive the upasampada ordination, go to the Sangha, adjust his upper robe so as to cover one shoulder, salute the feet of the Bhikkhus with his head, sit down squatting, raise his joined hands, and say: "I ask the Sangha, reverend Sirs, for the upasampada ordination; might the Sangha, reverend Sirs, draw me out (of the sinful world) out of compassion towards me." And for the second time, &c.; and for the third time let him ask, &c.
3. 'Then let a learned, competent Bhikkhu proclaim the following natti(motion) before the Sangha: "Let the Sangha, reverend Sirs, hear me. This person N. N. desires to receive the upasampada ordination from the venerable N. N.; N. N. asks the Sangha for the upasampada ordination with N. N. as upajjhaya. If the Sangha is ready, &c,1"'
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